Coolant pipe / joint collar / crossover pipe

[burgerandchips]

I know there are a couple of posts on this topic already but my question is a little different, I have a coolant leak coming from the coolant pipe that crosses from front to rear cylinder. See the 1st photo below. I am able to push the pipe into the front cylinder (as shown in the drawing below) to replace the O ring on the rear side, but the pipe will not slide fully the other way into the rear cylinder, so I can't get 
to the O ring inside the front cylinder. I am concerned that the front head needs to come off in order to remove the front O ring.

Anyone here been able to successfully replace BOTH O rings without removing the front cylinder and head?

The O ring that I cannot get to is highlighted in RED in the 2nd drawing below

[S Barker]

Looking at the OEM manual it seems that the "Joint Collar" is normally removed along with the front cylinder.

[burgerandchips]

hmmm...thats what I was afraid of, it puzzles me that Honda would design it this way, service parts should be easy to access....

[Bikerbill]

I suggest you look at the Haynes Manual Section 2.34 sub section 16. This shows the coolant pipe removal prior to removing the cylinder head. Not a job i have done as yet (rather hope i won't need to). Let me know if you need a scan of the pages.

[burgerandchips]

I suggest you look at the Haynes Manual Section 2.34 sub section 16. This shows the coolant pipe removal prior to removing the cylinder head. Not a job i have done as yet (rather hope i won't need to). Let me know if you need a scan of the pages.

Thanks for the reference Bill, I checked the manual, looks like one of the cylinder needs to be removed to get to both O rings. I guess I will just have to bite the bullet and do it.

[Bikerbill]

That's a real pain, so much work just for an o ring  I have looked through the Shadow 125 manual and it's the same as the Varadero. I will be very interested to see how you get on. Best of luck 

[burgerandchips]

By way of an update, yes indeed I had to remove the front cylinder head. Not fully but just enough to remove the water pipe completely, then you can replace the front O ring. I liifted it about an inch or so. Total pain tbh just to replace a simple O ring.

[Bikerbill]

Well done and that is useful information.